A severely disabled 14-year-old boy was verbally abused and repeatedly spat on during an attack police have described as “shocking”.
Joseph Morris, who has foot deformities and suffers from Asperger’s syndrome and epilepsy, was riding his specially adapted tricycle outside his home in Wakefield when his tormentors struck on Tuesday afternoon.
Joseph, who also suffers from a progressive degenerative nerve disease, was targeted by a group of three girls aged around 14, who were with a boy and a girl aged between five and seven.
His mother Yvonne, 41, said the older girls verbally abused her son before one spat at him.
Mrs Morris said: “By the time he got home his face was covered in spit and he was absolutely hysterical.
“It shook him up, he doesn’t understand why it happened.
“He has been very withdrawn and very quiet.
“He was really upset and I couldn’t console him.
“Socially and mentally he is about seven or eight and he doesn’t get this thing with groups and gangs.
“This happened just outside his own house and I think that is absolutely ridiculous.
“The younger children with the older girls are going to think that is how to behave.”
Insp Richard Close, of Wakefield Police, said: “This was a shocking attack on a vulnerable teenager, which is why its important we identify the youngsters involved.
“We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour.”
The incident happened just after 2.30pm on Tuesday at the junction of Gloucester Place and Cotswold Road at Lupset.
The girl who spat at Joseph is described as a white, aged about 14 to 15 and 5ft 5in tall.
She was thin with long, dark brown hair.
She was wearing a white long sleeved top, a red sleeveless gilet, black trousers and brown fluffy ‘Ugg’ style boots.
A second teenage girl had blonde hair tied up in a bun and she was wearing a black ski jacket. Call PC Dave Pickering of Wakefield police via 101 with information, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.